FLOWERY BRANCH – Gerald Riggs, the Falcons all-time leading rusher, will become the ninth member to be enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor, the team announced on Wednesday.

“I received a phone call from a guy, at first I thought it was a joke and thought somebody was impersonating Arthur Blank,” Riggs said. “But, I found out that it was the real deal and he told me that I was going to be put in the Ring of Honor.”

Riggs receive the news last Friday and the ceremony will take place at halftime of the Falcons Monday Night Football game against the New York Jets on October 7.

“It’s great to still be above ground and see it happen,” Riggs said.

Riggs was selected by the Falcons as the ninth overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft out of Arizona State.

He was a three-time Pro Bowler in his seven seasons in Atlanta and finished his Falcons career as the franchise’s all-time rushing leader with 6,631 rushing yards.

Riggs scored 48 career touchdowns, which puts him second in team history in terms of rushing touchdowns and fifth in overall touchdowns.

“Gerald Riggs is without question one of the greatest players in the history of our franchise,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank is in a statement. “He was one of the finest players of his time and left an indelible mark on this club as our all-time leading rusher.”

Riggs finished his career with the Washington Redskins from 1998-1991. He rushed for 8,188 yards and 69 touchdowns over his career.

Certainly agree with Wease. William Andrews was like Turner and Riggs combined; he was great!! If Andrews was healthy when we got Riggs then that's why he didn't play much in the beginning of his Falcon career.

People don't remember how good he was out of the backfield; those are rather good numbers for yards per carry; considering they knew he was coming... Riggs wasn't nearly as good; he has got more popular since he lives in Atlanta and does a Falcon show after games locally---he's never negative. I don't know why we drafted Riggs 9th in 82; we had so many needs.

In 84 & 85 we were 4-12 without Andrews.. 82 was the strike and they only kept stats for 9 games.

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